Land clearing device



10, 1968 E. v. FRANKENBERG ETAL 3,415,296

LAND CLEARING DEVICE I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21, 1965 INVENTORSEdward Kfimkmber Dec. 10, .1968 E. v. FRANKENBERG ETAL 3,415,296

LAND CLEARING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 21. 1965 w. 0 m H M N wEm f R VfG 0 mr .r yn k am r m I V. B Y

United States Patent 3,415,296 LAND CLEARING DEVICE Edward V.Frankenberg and Norman N. Griliith, Jacksonville, Fla., assignors toFleco Corporation, Jacksonville, Fla, a corporation of Florida Filed May21, 1965, Ser. No. 457,602 14 Claims. (Cl. 144-34) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A land clearing device for use in combination with abulldozer which comprises a movable substantially horizontally disposedframe. The frame includes first and second elongated side membersdisposed in a Vshape which terminate in a forwardly facing apex, theseside members have rearwardly extending supporting arms rigidly fixedthereto and pivotally mounted at their aft ends to the bulldozer. Afirst substantially horizontally disposed cutting blade is mounted onthe first side member of said frame and extends forwardly and inwardlyfrom one side of the frame to the apex thereof and a secondsubstantially horizontally disposed cutting blade is mounted on thesecond side member of the frame and extends forwardly and inwardly ofthe other side of the frame to the apex thereof. Attaching means andselectively releaseably connecting means for the attaching means areprovided on the side members of the frame adjacent the apex thereof suchthat the two side members of the frame are easily and readily attachableand detachable one from the other to provide for convenienttransportation and compact storage of the device. The apparatus furtherincludes a forwardly extending tree splitting element which has arearward end portion connected to one of the side members of the frameadjacent the apex thereof and a sharpened forward end portion. This treesplitting element includes a first elongated vertical side portionbetween its end portions parallel to and adjacent a vertical planethrough the apex of the frame, and a second elongated vertical sideportion between its end portions offset from the first side portion andextending at an angle acute with respect to the first side portion suchthat the element is formed in the shape of a wedge of decreasing widthtoward its forward end portion. The first and second elongated verticalside portions of the element are adapted to wedge a part of a tree beingfelled laterally of the second side portion during the splitting of thetree, while the first side portion is adapted to pass inwardly of thetree in a relatively unobstructed manner. The tree splitting elementfurther includes an elongated horizontally disposed wedge shaped cuttingblade attached to the lower edge portion of the second side portion ofthe element, which wedge shaped cutting blade is of decreasing widthtoward the forward end portion of the element and which extendslaterally outward of the second vertical side portion such as to shearand cut the wedged out portion of the tree being felled.

The present invention relates to a tree-felling and land clearingdevice, and more particularly to improvements in a V-shaped tree-fellingand land clearing attachment for use with tractors, bulldozers and thelike, which is adapted to clear the entire area over which the implementpasses by a substantially continuous forward movement of the clearingattachment.

Heretofore in the art to which this invention relates, land clearingimplements of various types have been proposed, and in general, haveperformed satisfactorily but have not been found to be entirely suitableand adaptable in all instances. Some of the implements of the prior artcomprise a pair of outwardly and rearwardly extending blades having asplitter mounted on the center line of the device and at the point wherethe forward end of the blades meet. Often times in devices of this sort,which have shear blades connected at opposite sides of the splittingelement, there is no effective splitting off and cutting of the treetrunk due to the fact that upon engagement of the splitter element withthe tree trunk the laterally extending blades wedge into the trunk tothereby stall the apparatus. On the other hand, if it is attempted tostrike the tree trunk at the side thereof, often the entire implementand tractor is forced around so that the tractor looses its power andability to move forward. Sometimes the tree splitting element in theseland clearing attachments of the prior art is substantially offset fromthe center line of the bulldozer, thus causing excessive wear on onetrack of the bulldozer and reducing, sometimes by as much as one-half,the power available for tree splitting. Also when using this typearrangement, the tractor has a tendency to turn instead of moving in aforward course as desired. One big disadvantage of the land clearingattachments of the prior art, and in particular that of the V-shapedtype, is that the piece of equipment is usually of necessity quite largeand bulky, making it diflicult to transport and move between one job andthe next or to conveniently and compactly store.

Therefore, with the above in mind, it is an object of this invention toprovide an improved V-type land clearing and tree cutting device forattachment to a bulldozer or tractor.

Another object of the subject invention is to provide a V-shaped landclearing blade having substantially horizontally disposed toothed bladesalong the lower periphery of the V-shaped attachment, these bladesserving to cut the growth from the land at ground level, and, in thecase of relatively large trees, these blades serving to shear the treefrom its trunk once the tree has been split by the tree splitter elementattached to one of the blades adjacent its inner end. The teeth disposedalong the outer edges of the blades should be of a serrated shape sothat when they are being used to cut relatively thick trees, the teethwill engage the tree with a stepping motion, which intermediateengagement permits the tractor or other prime mover to gain momentum asthe blade moves along from tooth to tooth.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a V-shapedland clearing apparatus which is adapted to shear off large tree stumpsand the like by making successive passes at the stump adjacent theground level thereof whereby the stump is substantially removed abovethe ground level.

A further object of this invention is to provide a V-shaped landclearing device for use in attachment with a bulldozer or tractor inwhich small vegetation may be removed at the same time as large stumps,trees and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a V-shaped land clearingdevice which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture,easily adaptable for use on conventional type tractors, and one in whicheach side of the V-shaped blade is attachable and detach-able from theother to allow for ready transportation of the equipment from job siteto job site and easy storage of the same.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a V-shaped landclearing blade attachment for bulldozers and the like wherein the deviceis strong in construction to counteract the shearing stresses imposed onthe device particularly while the device is being used to split thetrunk of a tree or the like.

According to the present invention these and other objects are attainedby providing a V-shaped land clearing apparatus for use in combinationwith a bulldozer, tractor or other prime mover in which the shear bladeswhich make up the sides of the V are easily and readily attachable anddetachable one from the other to allow for easy transportation betweenjob sites and convenient, compact storage when the apparatus is not inuse. The tree splitting element is mounted adjacent the center l ne ofthe apparatus and connected to the forward end of an inwardly andforwardly extending shear blade which extends from one side of theapparatus to the center line thereof. A second shear blade is mounted onthe opposite side of the imple ment and extends inwardly and forwardlyto terminate at the center line thereof. The construction is such thatthe tree splitting element and the forward portion of the shear blade towhich the element is connected splits and shears off a portion of anobject before the other shear blade contacts the object. The landclearing apparatus of this invention is constructed so as to strengthenthe unit as to the shear stresses, which develop where the two shearblades are joined, when the device is used in the operation of splittingand felling trees. The strengthening is attained by making use of acooperating tongue and socket construction at the interface where thetwo shear blades are joiningly connected. This type of construction isalso used for purposes of added strength in the crossmember bracing thetwo shear blades in a V position, which cross-member also attaches to ablock and tackle connected to the tractor or the like and which is usedin raising and lowering the land clearing attachment.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of thisinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and method ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may beunderstood by reference to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the V-shaped land clearing tree cutter deviceof this invention; the broken lines indicating the prime mover to whichthe device is connected;

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the tree cutter device ofFIG. 1, the device being depicted by broken lines in a raised, inclinedposition;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tree cutter device of FIG. 1 beingconnected to a prime mover shown by broken lines herein;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the construction of the connectingarm of the device taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the construction of one of the shearblades and its supporting members taken along line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 2 andshowing further the detailed construction of the shear blade and itssupporting members;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, partially broken away, taken alongline 7-7 and showing in detail the construction of the device and themanner of connecting the two shear blades;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines SS of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a crosssectional view taken along line 99 of FIG. 1 showingthe details of the construction of the cross-member between the shearblades;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1010 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view, partially broken away, showing theconstructional details of the cross member and shear blades.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals designatelike parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 a detailed top plan view of theV-shaped land clearing and tree splitting attachment or device of theinvention. The device, generally designated by numeral 20, has a pair ofsupporting or connecting arms 22 and 24 which connected the device torespective stub shafts 28 and 30 extending outwardly from each side of abulldozer, tractor or other prime mover 26 (shown by broken line).Attached to the supporting arms is a V-shaped frame having side members32 and 34 which in turn support and carry respective vertically disposedmembers 36 and 38, cutting or shear blades 40 and 42, which aregenerally horizontally disposed, and tree splitting element 44. Theconstruction of the attachment is completed by cross member 46 whichfurther maintains and braces supporting members 32 and 34 in their Vshape. Centrally located on cross member 46 and attached thereto is abracket 48 for attaching the implement by block and tackle or othersuitable means to the front of the bulldozer or other prime mover. It isby this means that the front of the attachment is moved in an up anddown direction relative to the ground level while the rear portionpivots about the stub shafts 28 and 30. Shear or cutting blades 40 and42 are provided with sharp serrated edges 50 and 52 for contacting theobject being cut at relatively small areas of contact. The advantages ofthe tooth-like structure of the blades are; first, that the length ofcontact between the edge of the blade and the object being cut isreduced so as to increase unit cutting pressures; and second, thatresistance to forward motion varies in a step by step fashion as theblade progresses tooth to tooth against the object so that the tractoris able to gain momentum during the increment of travel beween theoutstanding teeth. Each side of the V-shaped cutter is attachable anddetachable one from the other at 54, 56 and 58 by the use of selectivelyreleaseable connecting means such as bolts 60 and their co-acting nuts,such as to allow for easy and ready transportation from job site to jobsite and convenient, compact storage of the attachment when not in use.Shear blade 42 is provided with a wedge shaped blade 62 connecting thetree splitting element 44 rearwardly of its leading edge to the serratedportion 50 of cutting blade 42, such that the tree splitting element 44,together and in cooperation with the wedge shaped shear blade 62,splits, cuts and shears off a portion of a tree trunk before theserrated portions of shear blades49 and 42 make contact with the trunk,thereby minimizing any stalling of the equipment.

The right-side elevational view of the V-shaped cutter in FIG. 2 moreclearly depicts the up and down movetent with respect to the groundlevel of the tree splitting element 44 and cutting blades 40 and 42while the supporting arms 22 and 24 pivot about stub shafts 28 and 30.The broken lines 64 show the apparatus raised from horizontal position.Connnection of the tree splitting element 44 to vertical plow-likemember 38 and cutting blades 2 is also more readily discernible.Extending rearwardly of plow-like member 38 and connected thereto in agenerally vertical position is a side panel or plate 66 which aids indeflecting vegetation outwardly from the implement and away from thebulldozer 26. At 68 there is depicted top guide rail or deflecting barwhich is connected to plow-like member 38 and supporting member 34 byspaced grill-like support members 70; a purpose of which is to guide anddeflect brush and vegetation outwardly from the implement and away fromthe tractor and operator carried thereby.

The V-shaped tree splitter and cutter, land clearing device 20, of thisinvention, is shown in FIG. 3 in operational position attached to abulldozer 26 or other like prime mover. Block and tackle 72, partlyshown by broken lines, is attached to the nose of the tractor and theother end thereof is attached to the implement at bracket 48, as shownin FIG. 1.

In FIG. 4 there is shown in detail the construction of the connecting orsupporting arm 24 and side panel or plate 66 connected thereto. Thesupporting or connecting arm 24 is constructed of two elongated L-shapedplates or members 74 and 76 welded together, to form a boxlike memberwhich is attached to the side panel or plate 66 and above which there isan additional upright plate or member 78. Connected to and running alongthe top edge of side plate 66 and member 78 is a cap or cover platemember 79 which lends strength and rigidity to the apparatus.

FIG. 5, being a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 2rearwardly and adjacent cross bracing member 46 and looking in thedirection of the arrows toward the tree splitting element, shows ingreater detail the construction of side panel 38, cutting blade 42,deflecting bar 68 and the supporting members of the attachment at thislocation. The elongated L-shaped members 75 and 77 are welded to form abox-like member 81 and an additional L-shaped member 80 is connectedthereto which joins the inward end of cutting blade 42 to the supportingframework of the device. Arm 24 is attached by butt welding to boxmember 81 and by connecting or lap plates 114, and 115, described morefully in the description of FIG. 11. There is provided a small plate 82inwardly of side panel 38 to connect and reinforce such panel 38 to thecutting blade 42. Lap or connecting plates 108 and 109 are attached tobox member 81 which are in turn connected to cross member 46 ashereinafter more fully described. Channel member 84 attached near thetop of side panel 38 lends rigidity to the structure and supportingmembers 70 are connected to channel member 84. Support members 70rigidly hold deflecting bar 68 in spaced relationship above the top ofside panel 38.

There is shown in cross-section in FIG. 6 details of the construction ofthe cutting implement, along line 6-6 of FIG. 2 and looking in thedirection of the arrows toward the apex of the V. The carrying andsupporting framework for cutting blade 42 and side panel 38 is here seento consist of L-shaped member 75 attached to side panel 38 below whichmember '80 is attached between side panel 38 and the inner edge ofcutting blade 42 and plate member 82 additionally connects side panel 38with cutting blade 42. Another supporting member 70 connects guide ordeflection bar 6 8 with the channel member 84, as hereinbefore describedin connection with FIG. 5.

FIG. 7, being a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1looking in the direction of the arrows toward the center line of theimplement, shows the details of the connection or joint of the two sidesof the V of the cutting apparatus. The elongated tree splitting element44 is attached along its inclined side 47 to Wedge shaped cutting blade62 and along its base or butt plate 91 to side panel 38 and shear blade42 by welding or other suitable means, such as to form a strong andrigid member intregal with the rest of the implement. Tree splittingelement 44 is generally of a wedge shape construction which is formed byconstructing one of the vertical sides 49 of this element 44 paralleland adjacent to a vertical plane through the apex of the V of theimplement, While the other vertical side 47 of the element is formed atan acute angle to this vertical plane through the apex of the V. Thisconstruction is particularly useful when the implement is used insplitting a tree, as the wedge shaped body moves forwardly into the treeit widens and further splits the opening made in the tree by the leadingedge of this tree splitting element 44. While tree splitting element 44is itself generally wedge shaped, its outermost end or extremityterminates in a chisel-like point 45; these foregoing features beingmore readily discernible in FIGS. 1 and 3. This chisel-like point 45 isformed by constructing one of the vertical sides 49 of the outer end ofthe tree splitting element 44 parallel and adjacent to a vertical planethrough the apex of the V of the implement, while the other verticalside 51 at the outer end is made to intersect the first vertical side atan acute angle such that a chisel-like point is formed at 45. Thischisel-like construction makes it possible for the sharp, pointed outerend of the tree "splitting element to first contact and start a split inthe tree to be felled and then further engage and widen the splittherein as the bulldozer and implement moves forward relative to thetree being felled. The wedge shape of splitting element 44 as well asthe wedge shape of its outermost end, which wedges are respectivelyformed by vertical sides 49 and 47, and 49 and 51, tend to widen andlaterally force the initial split portion of the tree being felled andthus cooperates with cutting blade 62 in its function of shearing andcutting off the wedged out split portion of the tree. Attachable anddetachable mounting plates 94 and 96 are carried by side members 36 and38 respectively and attached thereto at the side members foremost end.These brackets or mounting plates 94, 96 are held together byselectively releaseable connecting means in the form of bolts 60 andtheir cooperating nuts. At the top of mounting plates 94 and 96 thereare attached respective Supporting members 99 and 98 which support thetwo sections of guiding or deflecting bar 68 in adjacent positions atthe apex of the V-shaped cutter. Additionally contained within mountingor attaching plates 94, 96 are mounting or rigidifying means in the formof mortise joints or tongue and groove joints 100 and 101, joint 100being more clearly shown in FIG. 8, which is a cross-sectiontherethrough. Joint 100 preferably includes a rectangular tongue or malemember 102 carried by plate 94 and a cooperating rectangular socket orfemale member 104 of plate 96 slightly larger than the cross-sectionaldimensions of tongue 102, such that tongue 102 and socket 104 fittogether in an embracing nesting relationship when plates 94 and 96- areconnected by bolts 60 and nuts. Joints 101 similarly includes a tongueand socket construction, and other such joints may be provided asdesired. The employment of this tongue and socket joint constructionbetween plates 94 and 96 takes-up and relieves the high shearingstresses which develop in bolts 60 when the implement is in operation,thus insuring that the bolts are not damaged or broken by the forcesdeveloped during repeated impact of the splitter 44 with trees.

FIG. 9 is a detail of the construction of the bracing cross-member 46,which member holds and supports the side of the implement in the Vposition as well as providing a connecting bracket 48 for attachingblock and tackle '72 thereto, the upper end of which is attached to thenose of the bulldozer. The plow-like side walls 36 and 38 are connectedto cutting blades 40 and 42, respectively, all of which is attached toand supported by members 75, and 82 on one side and 75, 80' and 82' onthe other side thereof. This structure is in turn attached to bracingcross-member 46 by welding attaching angles or lap plates 106 and 108thereto. Bracing cross-member 46 is provided with joint means at 56 and58 for connecting and disconnecting the V sides of the cuttingapparatus. Such joint means 56 and 58 each have a tongue and socketstructure similar to the joint at in FIGS. 7 and 8 which attach plates94 and 96. Each of these joint means at 56 and 58, a cross-sectionthrough the one at 58 being shown in FIG. 10, includes a pair ofabutting flanges 110 and 118 which are connected by selectivelyreleaseable connecting means such as bolts 61 and nuts. One of theflanges of each pair, for example flange 118, has an inwardly extendinggroove or socket 112 constituted by the outer end of L-shaped anglemembers 113 which are connected to form a box like member and which is aportion of cross member 46. The other flange of the pair, as for example110, has an outwardly extending tongue or male member 122 whichcooperates with its corresponding socket or female member, such as 112of flange 118. This tongue or male member 122 is provided for by firstwelding a flange, such as 110, to the outer end of L-shaped anglemembers 113 which form a box-like member and which is a portion of crossmember 46, then a solid plate member is inserted in and welded to thisflange such that a portion thereof projects beyond the flange to becomethe tongue or male member.

The co-action between these tongues and sockets at joint means 56 and 58is such that cross-member 46 becomes a solid unified structure when theflanges are connected by bolts 61 and nuts. This joint constructiongreatly strengthens the cross member with respect to the shear forcesacting thereon when the implement is in operation, and further permitsthe detachment of the two sides of the implement.

Shown in FIG. 11 is an enlargement of a portion of the tree cuttingimplement of this invention, this view being obtained by looking down atFIG. 1 on the side of the V carrying the tree splitting element.Ajoinment of this side of the V structure to supporting or connectingarm 24 and to bracing cross member 46 is depicted, as well as is jointmeans 53 in spaced or unconnected relationship. Here cutting blade 42and plow-like side member 38 are connected to supporting members 70along with other supporting and carrying members which are in turn alljoined to box like member 81 and L-shaped member 80, which members aremore clearly seen in FIG. 5. Box member 81 is connected to supportingarm 24 by butt welding and employing welded lap plates or angle brackets114 and 115 at one end thereof, and is joined to the supportingcross-member 46 at the opposite end thereof by butt welding andemploying similar welded lap plates or angle brackets 108 and 109.Connecting means 58 being shown in disconnected arrangement comprises aset of flanges 110 and 118 having aligned bolt holes 120 therein. Theseflange-s 11d and 118 when normally joined in engaging relationship bythe use of selectively releaseable connecting means such as bolts 61 andnuts abut one another. Flange 110 has inserted therein and weldedthereto a tongue or male member 112 which extends outwardly therefrom tocooperately engage the socket or female opening 112 contained withinflange 118, such that when this joint 58 is secured by bolts 61 andtheir cooperating nuts, supporting cross member 46 becomes a rigid andunified structure capable of withstanding the high shear stresses whichdevelop during the operation of this tree cutting element.

From the foregoing description the operation of the improved landclearing device of this invention will be readily understood. Theimplement is secured to the forward end of a prime mover, such as abulldozer, tractor or the like by the supporting or connecting arms 22and 24 such that the implement is pushed forwardly of the tractor. Thereis also provided means for raising and lowering the device with respectto the prime mover; in the embodiment shown such means include block andtackle 72 which is connected to the nose of the bulldozer and attachedto supporting bracket 48 on cross member 46. The driver of the bulldozerraises the front end of the attachment by shortening up on the block andtackle and drives the bulldozer out into the field to be cleared. Whenthe bulldozer has entered the field the V-shaped cutting device will belowered to ground level or to an essentially horizontal position,although it is possible to run the device with the cutting bladesslightly below the surface of the soil if so desired. Having thusadjusted the level of the land clearing attachment the driver thenproceeds to drive the bulldozer forwardly thereby bringing the cuttingedges 50 and 52 into engagement with whatever growth appears on thesurface of the land, blades 40 and 42 severing the growth, and plow-likepanels 36 and 38 pushing debris to the side so as to leave a clear pathfor the tractor. When it is desired to sever a stump or tree adjacentthe ground level, the tree splitting element 44 is moved inwardly of aside of the tree, whereby a side portion of the tree is split.Immediately upon splitting the side portion of the tree the wedge shapedshear blade 62 cuts and shears off the split portion. After this firstportion is split and sheared off the tree, the implement is again movedforwardly whereby the splitting element 44 assumes a position inwardlyof the first split in the tree whereupon another portion of the treetrunk is split away and immediately cut by the wedge shaped shearingblade 62. As the shear blade 40 terminates rearwardly a distance of thefront portion of the tree splitting element 44, this shearing blade 40does not generally engage to any major extent the tree trunk during thesplitting operation. However, once the tree trunk has been severed theentire apparatus is moved forwardly whereby both shear blades 40 and 42clear the entire area over which the implement 20 passes. When asuitable size land clearing attachment is used on a heavy dutycrawler-type tractor, the device will be able to easily cut down all thetrees and other growth appearing on the surface of the land, leaving theearth sufficiently clean to permit cultivation thereof as soon as thedebris has been moved from the surface. The design of this V-shaped landclearing apparatus is such that the entire area over which the implementpasses is cleared with one pass of the implement, thereby eliminatingthe necessity of having to first cut small growth and than rake sameprior to the removal of the larger growth. Because of the improvementstherein the device of this invention is readily and easily broken downfor convenient transportation and compact storage thereof, but may beeasily assembled and put into use when so desired. The construction issuch that the apparatus when in operation is a strong unified piece ofequipment capable of withstanding the high shearing stresses whichdevelop in the operation of a V-shaped tree cutting device of thisnature.

While only a certain preferred embodiment of this invention has beenshown and described by way of illustration, many modifications willoccur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, desired that itbe understood that it is intended in the appended claims to cover allsuch modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is:

1. In a V-shaped land clearing device wherein the device includes a pairof elongated and substantially equal side frame members having rearwardends connectable to a prime mover and forward ends connected to form theapex of the frame, and a pair of substantially horizontally disposedelongated shear blades connected to respective side frame membersadjacent the forward ends and rearwardl thereof, the improvementcomprising a forwardly extending tree splitting wedge element having arearward end portion connected to one of said side frame membersadjacent the apex of said frame and terminating forwardly in anupstanding sharpened forward tree piercing end, said element including afirst elongated vertical side extending from said forward end parallelto and adjacent a longitudinal and vertical plane through said apex toits said rearward end portion, said element including a second elongatedvertical side meeting said first vertical side to form said sharpenedend and extending rearwardly to its said rearward end portion, saidsecond elongated side extending rearwardly from said sharpened endgradually away from said first side and forming said element in a wedgeshape of decreasing width toward its said forward end, said first andsecond elongated vertical sides being adapted to wedge a part of a treebeing felled laterally of said second elongated vertical side during thesplitting of said tree, and said first elongated vertical side beingadapted to pass inwardly of said tree in a substantially unobstructedmanner.

2. The V-shaped land clearing device as defined by claim 1 wherein saidsecond vertical side includes a pair of side portions, one said sideportion being connected to said sharpened end and extending rearwardlyat an acute angle with respect to said first vertical side, the othersaid side portion extending at another smaller acute angle with respectto said first vertical side said sharpened forward end of said treesplitting element between said first vertical side and one said sideportion being adapted to penetrate a tree which is to be felled, saidelement between said first vertical side and said other side portionbeing adapted to wedge out a portion of the tree adjacent said otherside portion.

3. The V-shaped land clearing device as defined by claim 2 furthercomprising an elongated horizontally disposed cutting blade attached tothe lower edge portion of said second elongated vertical side of saidtree splitting element, said cutting blade extending laterally outwardof said second elongated vertical side so as to shear and cut the wedgedout portion of the tree being felled.

4. The V-shaped land clearing device as defined by claim 2 furthercomprising an elongated horizontally disposed wedge shaped cutting bladeattached to the lower edge portion of said second elongated verticalside of said tree splitting element, said wedge shaped cutting bladebeing of decreasing width toward said forward sharpened end of said treesplitting element and extending laterally outward of said secondelongated vertical side so as to shear and cut the wedged out portion ofthe tree being felled.

5. A land clearing device for use in combination with a bulldozercomprising a movable substantially horizontally disposed frame, saidframe having first and second elongated side members disposed in aV-shape and terminating in a forwardly facing apex, said side membershaving rearwardly extending supporting arms rigidly fixed thereto andpivotally mountable at their aft ends to a bulldozer, a firstsubstantially horizontally disposed cutting blade mounted on said firstside member of said frame and extending forwardly and inwardly from oneside of said frame to the apex thereof, a second substantiallyhorizontally disposed cutting blade mounted on said second side memberof said frame and extending forwardly and inwardly from the other sideof said frame to the apex thereof, attaching means connected to saidfirst side member of said frame at the apex thereof to joiningly attachsaid first side member to said second side member of said frame,attaching means connected to said second side member of said frame atthe apex thereof to joiningly attach said second side member to saidfirst side member of said frame, releasable connecting means forselectively engaging and disengaging said attaching means on said firstside member with said attaching means on said second side member of saidframe such that the two side members of said frame are easily andreadily attachable and detachable one from the other to provide forconvenient transportation and compact storage of the device.

6. The land clearing device as defined by claim 5 further comprising aforwardly extending tree splitting element having a rearward end portionconnected to one of said side members of said frame adjacent the apex ofsaid frame and having a sharpened forward end portion, said elementincluding a first elongated vertical side portion between its said endportions parallel to and adjacent a vertical plane through said apex,said element including a second elongated vertical side portion betweenits said end portions offset from said first side portion and extendingat an angle acute with respect to said first side portion, therebyforming said element in a wedge shape of decreasing width toward itssaid forward end portion, said first and second elongated vertical sideportions being adapted to wedge a part of a tree being felled laterallyof said second elongated vertical side portion during the splitting ofsaid tree, said first elongated vertical side portion being adapted topass inwardly of said tree in a relatively unobstructed manner, and anelongated horizontally disposed wedge shaped cutting blade attached tothe lower edge portion of said second elongated vertical side portion ofsaid tree splitting element, said wedge shaped cutting blade being ofdecreasing with toward said forward end portion of said tree splittingelement and extending laterally outward of said second elongatedvertical side portion so as to shear and cut the wedged out portion ofthe tree being felled.

7. A V-shaped land clearing device for use in combination with a primemover comprising a movable substantially horizontally disposed frame,said frame having first and 'second elongated side members disposed in aV- shape and terminating in a forwardly facing apex, said side membershaving rearwardly extending supporting arms rigidly fixed thereto andpivotally mountable at their aft ends to a prime mover, a firstsubstantially horizontally disposed cutting blade mounted on said firstside member of said frame and extending forwardly and inwardly from oneside of said frame to the apex thereof, a second substantiallyhorizontally disposed cutting blade mounted on the second side member ofsaid frame and extending forwardly and inwardly from the other side ofsaid frame to the apex thereof, a first mounting plate connected to saidfirst side member of said frame at the apex thereof and being verticallydisposed parallel to a vertical plane through said apex to provide forattachment of said first side member to said second side member of saidframe, a second mounting plate connected to said second side member ofsaid frame at the apex thereof and being vertically disposed parallel toa vertical plane through said apex to provide for attachment of saidsecond side member to said first side member of said frame, releasableconnecting means for selectively engaging and disengaging said firstmounting plate with said second mounting plate such that the two sidemembers of said frame are easily and readily attachable and detachableone from the other to provide for convenient transportation and compactstorage of the device.

8. A V-shaped land clearing device for use in combination with a primemover comprising a movable substantially horizontally disposed frame,said frame having first and second side members disposed in a V-shapeand terminating in a forwardly facing apex, said side members havingrearwardly extending supporting arms rigidly fixed thereto and pivotallymountable at their aft ends to a prime mover, a first substantiallyhorizontally disposed cutting blade mounted on said first side member ofsaid frame and extending forwardly and inwardly from one side of saidframe to the apex thereof, a second substantially horizontally disposedcutting blade mounted on said second side member of said frame andextending forwardly and inwardly from the other side of said frame tothe apex thereof, a first mounting plate connected to said first sidemember of said frame at the apex thereof, said first mounting platevertically disposed parallel to a vertical plane through said apex toprovide for attachment of said first side member to said second memberof said frame, said first mounting plate having a horizontally disposedtongue mounted thereon, said tongue extending laterally outward from theinner side of said first mounting plate toward said apex, a secondmounting plate connected to said second side member of said frame at theapex thereof, said second mounting plate vertically disposed parallel toa vertical plane through said apex to provide for attachment of saidsecond side member to said first side member of said frame, said secondmounting plate having a socket therein, said socket facing said apexsuch that said socket on said second mounting plate engages andcooperates with said tongue on said first mounting plate when said firstside member is attached to said second side member to strengthen saiddevice with respect to the shear forces acting thereon when the deviceis in operation, releasable connecting means for selectively engagingand disengaging said first and second mounting plates such that the twoside mem- 'bers of said frame are easily and readily attachable anddetachable one from the other to provide for convenient transportationand compact storage of the device.

9. The V-shaped land clearing device as defined by claim 8 wherein saidjoint and socket construction of said apex of said frame is of arectangular construction.

10. The V-shaped land clearing device as defined by claim 8 furthercomprising a forwardly extending tree splitting element having arearward end portion connected to one of said side members of said frameadjacent the apex of said frame and having a sharpened forward endportion, said element including a first elongated vertical side portionbetween its said end portions parallel to and adjacent a vertical planethrough said apex, said element including a second elongated verticalside portion between its said end portions offset from said first sideportion and extending at an angle acute with respect to said first sideportion, thereby forming said element in a wedge shape of decreasingwidth toward its said forward end portion, said first and secondelongated vertical side portions being adapted to wedge a part of a treebeing felled laterally of said second elongated vertical side portionduring the splitting of said tree, said first elongated vertical sideportion being adapted to pass inwardly of said tree in a relativelyunobstructed manner, and an elongated horizontally disposed wedge shapedcutting blade attached to the lower edge portion of said secondelongated vertical side portion of said tree splitting element, saidwedge shaped cutting blade being of decreasing width toward said forwardend portion of said tree splitting element and extending laterallyoutward of said second elongated vertical side portion so as to shearand cut the wedged out portion of the tree being felled.

11. A V-shaped land clearing device for use in combination with abulldozer comprising a movable substantially horizontally disposedframe, said framing having first and second elongated side membersdisposed in a V-shape and terminating in a forwardly facing apex, saidside members having rearwardly extending supporting arms rigidly fixedthereto and pivotally mountable at their aft ends to a bulldozer, afirst substantially horizontally disposed cutting blade mounted on saidfirst side member of said frame and extending forwardly and inwardlyfrom one side of said frame to the apex thereof, a second substantiallyhorizontally disposed cutting blade mounted on said second side memberof said frame and extending forwardly and inwardly from the other sideof said frame to the apex thereof, attaching means connected to saidfirst side member of said frame at the apex thereof to joiningly attachsaid first side member to said second side member of said frame,attaching means connected to said second side member of said frame atthe apex thereof to joiningly attach said second side member to saidfirst side member of said frame, releasable connecting means forselectively engaging and disengaging said attaching means on said firstside member with said attaching means on said second side member on saidframe such that the two side members of said frame are easily andreadily attachable and detachable one from the other, and said frameadditionally having a horizontally disposed cross-member for rigidlybracing said first and second side members of said frame in saidV-shape, said cross-member having first and second elongated sections,said first elongated section of said cross-member being connected at oneof its ends to the inner side of said first side member of said frameand having attaching means connected to its other end to joininglyattach said first elongated section of said cross-member to said secondelongated section of said cross-member, said second elongated section ofsaid cross-member being connected at one of its ends to the inner sideof said second side member of said frame and having attaching meansconnected to its other end to joiningly attach said second elongatedsection of said cross-member to said first elongated section of saidcross-member, releasably connecting means for selectively engaging anddisengaging said attaching means on said first elongated section withsaid attaching means on said second elongated section of saidcross-member such that the two sections of said crossmember are easilyand readily attachable and detachable one from the other to provide forconvenient transportation and compact storage of the implement.

12. A V-shaped land clearing device for use in combination with a primemover, comprising a movable substantially horizontally disposed frame,said frame having first and second elongated side members disposed in aV- Cir shape and terminating in a forwardly facing apex, said sidemembers having rearwardly extending supporting arms rigidly fixedthereto and pivotally mountable at their aft ends to a prime mover, afirst substantially horizontally disposed cutting blade mounted on saidfirst side member of said frame and extending forwardly and inwardlyfrom one side of said frame to the apex thereof, a second substantiallyhorizontally disposed cutting blade mounted on said second side memberof said frame and extending forwardly and inwardly from the other sideof said frame to the apex thereof, attaching means connected to saidfirst side member of said frame at the apex thereof to joiningly attachsaid first side member to said second side member of said frame,attaching means connected to said second side member of said frame atthe apex thereof to joiningly attach said second side member to saidfirst side member of said frame, releasable connecting means forselectively engaging and disengaging said attaching means on said firstside member with said attaching means on said second side member on saidframe such that the two side members of said frame are easily andreadily attachable and detachable one from the other, and said frameadditonally having a horizontally disposed cross-member for rigidlybracing said first and second side members of said frame in said V-shape, said cross-member having first and second elongated sections,said first elongated section of said crossmember being connected at oneof its ends to the inner side of said first side member of said frameand having connected to its other end a first flange being verticallydisposed parallel to a vertical plane through said apex for attachingsaid first elongated section of said crossmember to said secondelongated section of said crossmember, said first flange having ahorizontally disposed tongue mounted therein, said tongue extendinglaterally outward from the inner side of said first flange to providefor cooperative engagement with a socket of a tongue and socketconstruction, said second elongated section of said cross-member beingconnected at one of its ends to the inner side of said second sidemember of said frame and having connected to its other end a secondflange being vertically disposed parallel to a vertical plane throughsaid apex for attaching said second elongated section of saidcross-member to said first elongated section of said crossmember, saidsecond flange having a socket therein for cooperative engagement withsaid tongue on said first flange when said first elongated section isattached to said second elongated section to strengthen saidcross-member with respect to the shear forces acting thereon when theimplement is in operation, releasable connecting means for selectivelyengaging and disengaging said first flange on said first elongatedsection with said second flange on said second elongated section of saidcross-member such that the two sections of said crossrnember are easilyand readily attachable and detachable one from the other to provide forconvenient transportation and compact storage of the implement.

13. A V-shaped land clearing device for use in combination with abulldozer comprising a movable substantially horizontally disposedframe, said frame having first and second elongated side membersdisposed in a V-shape and terminating in a forwardly facing apex, saidside' members having rearwardly extending supporting arms fixedlythereto and pivotally mountable at their aft ends to a bulldozer, afirst substantially horizontally disposed cutting blade mounted on saidfirst side member of said frame and extending forwardly and inwardlyfrom one side of said frame to the apex thereof, a second substantiallyhorizontally disposed cutting blade mounted 'on said second side memberof said frame and extending forwardly and inwardly from the other sideof said frame to the apex thereof, a first mounting plate connected tosaid first side member of said frame at the apex thereof and beingvertically disposed parallel to a vertical plane through said apex toprovide for attachment of said first side member to said second sidemember of said frame, said first mounting plate having a horizontallydisposed tongue mounted thereon, said tongue extending laterally outwardfrom the inner side of said first mounting plate toward said apex toprovide for cooperative engagement with a socket of a tongue and socketconstruction, a second mounting plate connected to said second sidemember of said frame at the apex thereof and being vertically disposedparallel to a vertical plane through said apex to provide for attachmentof said second side member to said first side member of said frame, saidsec-ond mounting plate having a socket therein, said socket facing saidapex such that said socket on said second mounting plate engages andcooperates with said tongue mounted on said first mounting plate Whensaid first side member is attached to said second side member tostrengthen said device with respect to the shear forces acting thereonwhen the device is in operation, releasable connecting means forselectively engaging and disengaging said first mounting plate on saidfirst side member with said second mounting plate on said second sidemember of said frame such that the two side members of said frame areeasily and readily attachable and detachable one from the other, andsaid frame additionally having a horizontally disposed cross-member forrigidly bracing said first and second side members of said frame in saidV-shape, said cross-member having first and second elongated sections,said first elongated section of said cross-member being connected at oneof its ends to the inner side of said first side member of said frameand having connected to its other end a first flange being verticallydisposed parallel to a vertical plane through said apex to provide forattachment of said first elongated section of said cross-member to saidsecond elongated section of said crossmember, said first flange having ahorizontally disposed tongue mounted herein, said tongue extendinglaterally outward from the inner side of said first flange toward saidsecond side member of said frame to provide for cooperative engagementwith a socket of a tongue and socket construction, said second elongatedsection of said cross-member being connected at one of its ends to theinner side of said second side member of said frame and having connectedto its other end a second flange being vertically disposed parallel to avertical plane through said apex to provide for attachment of saidsecond elongated section of said cross-member to said first elongatedsection of said cross-member, said second flange having a socket thereinfor cooperative engagement with said tongue mounted within said firstflange when said first elongated section is attached to said secondelongated section to strengthen said cross-member with respect to theshear forces acting thereon when the device is in operation, releasableconnecting means for selectively engaging and disengaging said firstflange on said first elongated section with said second flange on saidsecond elongated section of said cross-member such that the two sectionsof said cross-member are easily and readily attachable and detachableone from the other to provide for convenient transportation and storageof the device.

14. The V-shaped land clearing device as defined by claim 12 furthercomprising a forwardly extending tree splitting element having arearward end portion connected to one of said side members of said frameadjacent the apex of said frame and having a sharpened forward endportion, said element including a first elongated vertical side portionbetween its said end portions parallel to and adjacent a vertical planethrough said apex, said element including a second elongated verticalside portion between its said end portions offset from said first sideportion and extending at an angle acute with respect to said first sideportion, thereby forming said element in a wedge-shape of decreasingwidth toward its said forward end portion, said first and secondelongated vertical side portions being adopted to wedge a part of a treebeing felled laterally of said second elongated vertical side portionduring the splitting of said tree, said first elongated vertical sideportion being adopted to pass inwardly of said tree in a relativelyunobstructed manner, and an elongated horizontally disposed wedge shapedcutting blade attached to the lower edge portion of said secondelongated vertical side portion of said tree splitting element, saidwedge shaped cutting blade being of decreasing width toward said forwardend portion of said tree splitting element and extending laterallyoutward of said second elongated vertical side portion so as to shearand cut the wedged out portion of the tree being felled.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,633,880 4/1953 Mattson l44-342,821,217 l/1958 Shald l44--34 3,004,570 10/1961 Clayton et al. l44-343,119,421 1/1964 Marine 144-34 FRANCIS S. HUSAR, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 56-229 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,4l5,296 December 10, 1968 Edward V. Frankenberget al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7, line 30, 112" should read 122 Column 9, line 67, "with" shouldread width Column 11, line 64, "releasably" should read releasableColumn 14, line 11, the claim reference numeral "12" should read l3Signed and sealed this 10th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

VUILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer

